Chapter 6 Summary and Analysis

Germany is growing poorer in the winter of 1943. Every man is being called up to fight. The Soviet forces have pushed the Nazis back deep into the Ukraine. In January 1944, the Russians start to attack and Uncle Gustav, who has been called up, goes into action; Gustav is missing in action but on the Eastern Front, both sides kill their prisoners of war. By 1944, the Nazi empire has shrunk and no one underestimates the United States. Italy declares war on the Axis. Africa is lost and the Americans are moving into the war.

Propaganda cannot cover the massive losses. From then, anything not essential to war is not produced. The Hitler Youth are at the core of this effort. Alfons is ordered to attend a special weapons training camp so that he can handle infantry weapons. He then returns and starts...